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Hilton Honors American Categorical Card overview
The Hilton Honors American Categorical Card is Hilton’s no-annual-fee (see charges and charges) entry-level cobranded product. That includes bonus factors on eligible Hilton purchases and complimentary Hilton Honors Silver standing, the cardboard is a stable possibility for brand spanking new cardmembers loyal to the lodge chain or these seeking to keep away from annual charges (phrases apply). Nonetheless, different journey playing cards provide extra factors flexibility and greater perks. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card ranking is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The Hilton Honors program covers over 8,000 areas in additional than 120 nations, offering ample alternatives to earn and redeem factors.
If you happen to’re a newbie in search of a card with some Hilton perks, you could wish to take a look at the Hilton Honors American Categorical Card. It has no annual charge and comes with beneficiant class bonuses and journey and buy protections (phrases apply), making it an awesome possibility for vacationers seeking to get began with Hilton Honors.
You’ll usually want an excellent credit score rating of 670 or greater to have a practical probability of being permitted.
Right here’s every little thing you should determine if the cardboard is correct to your pockets.
Hilton Honors Amex execs and cons
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Hilton Honors Amex welcome provide
New Amex Hilton Honors cardmembers can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 in purchases on the cardboard throughout the first six months of cardmembership. This provide ends Jan. 8, 2025.
In keeping with TPG’s September 2024 valuations, Hilton factors are value 0.6 cents apiece, which implies this welcome provide is value $600.
The highest provide we’ve seen prior to now was 130,000 bonus factors, however you needed to spend $5,000 inside six months of cardmembership to obtain that supply. (Provide not out there.) Contemplating that’s solely 30,000 additional factors for a further $3,000 in spending, I say the present welcome provide is the higher of the 2.
Hilton Honors Amex advantages
The Hilton Honors Amex options a couple of notable perks and advantages past the welcome provide. On condition that this card doesn’t have an annual charge, I can’t fault it for being perk-thin.
Right here’s an summary of what this card has to supply (enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply):
- Elite standing: Cardmembers mechanically obtain Hilton Honors Silver elite standing, which gives member reductions, a 20% factors bonus on paid stays, elite rollover nights, a fifth evening free on award stays and extra. You’ll be able to improve to Hilton Honors Gold standing if you happen to spend $20,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr. It’s value declaring that different Hilton bank cards provide Gold standing mechanically, which means spending $20,000 to get there isn’t an excellent worth.
- Leisure: By the American Categorical Experiences program, you will get unique entry to ticket presales and cardmember-only occasions, in addition to Broadway exhibits, live performance excursions, sporting occasions and extra.
- ShopRunner: Free two-day delivery on eligible objects at a community of greater than 100 on-line shops after signing up at shoprunner.com/americanexpress.
- Prolonged guarantee*: The cardboard comes with an prolonged guarantee that provides as much as one yr to an unique producer’s guarantee of 5 years or much less.
- Buy safety*: Buy safety covers objects by accident broken, stolen or misplaced if you happen to paid for them along with your card. This profit covers purchases for as much as 90 days and covers as much as $1,000 per merchandise — as much as $50,000 per calendar yr.
- Automobile rental insurance coverage**: Whenever you use the cardboard to order and pay for a automotive rental and decline the rental firm’s insurance coverage, you’re coated towards harm and theft — as much as $50,000. This profit is secondary protection to your individual auto insurance coverage and doesn’t embrace legal responsibility.
*Eligibility and profit ranges range by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
**Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all car varieties or leases are coated, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by way of American Categorical Journey Associated Providers Firm, Inc.
Incomes factors on the Hilton Honors Amex
With the Hilton Honors Amex, you’ll earn 7 Hilton Honors factors per greenback on stays at Hilton accommodations and resorts (together with paying to your room and on-site spending at eating places and spas), 5 factors per greenback at U.S. eating places (together with takeout and supply), 5 factors per greenback at U.S. gasoline stations and U.S. supermarkets and three factors per greenback on different eligible purchases.
Given TPG’s September 2024 valuation of Hilton factors at 0.6 cents apiece, you’ll earn a 4.2% base return at Hilton accommodations — although you’ll get an additional 12 factors per greenback out of your Hilton Honors Silver elite standing, bumping your return to 11.4%.
As well as, you’ll obtain a 3% return on spending at U.S. grocery shops, U.S. gasoline stations and U.S. eating places (together with takeout and supply) and a 1.8% return on all different eligible purchases.
If you happen to’re in search of greater incomes alternatives overlaying a wider swath of journey purchases, together with flights and rental automobiles, you received’t get that with this card.
Associated: Which bank card do you have to use for Hilton stays?
Redeeming factors on the Hilton Honors Amex
You’ll get the very best worth to your Hilton factors for lodge and resort stays, even with the chain’s lack of printed award charts. What number of factors you want for a lodge room fluctuates, so that you received’t know the ultimate value till you go to make a reservation.
The Factors Explorer device can present you what different friends have paid not too long ago, supplying you with an concept of how a lot a given award ticket may cost.
You can too switch your Hilton Honors factors to over 25 international airline loyalty packages. I don’t suggest this methodology until you should switch Honors factors to prime off an airline account for a selected award. The switch ratio is often horrible, costing you hundreds of factors for a small return of airline miles.
My recommendation? Persist with lodge room redemptions to get the very best worth to your rewards.
You’ll do even higher if you redeem factors for a keep of 5 nights or longer. That’s since you get a fifth evening free on stays utilizing factors, because of your Hilton Silver standing.
TPG director of journey content material Eric Rosen not too long ago utilized the fifth-night-free profit to maximise the worth of his factors for a keep on the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal. Because of this characteristic, he was capable of save 120,000 Hilton factors.
Associated: Hilton provides one other 100-plus accommodations because of Small Luxurious Motels of the World partnership
Which playing cards compete with the Hilton Honors Amex?
The Hilton Honors Amex card has pure rivals with “Hilton” of their names, however a normal journey rewards bank card can also do higher in your pockets. Listed below are a couple of of the choices it’s best to take into account:
- If you happen to like Hilton however need extra perks: The Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card earns the next 12 factors per greenback at Hilton accommodations, gives automated Gold standing, and you may earn a free evening reward by spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar yr. You’ll additionally rise up to $200 in assertion credit towards Hilton purchases every calendar yr (as much as $50 every quarter), and the cardboard has a low $150 annual charge (see charges and charges). To be taught extra, take a look at our full assessment of the Amex Hilton Surpass card.
- In order for you versatile rewards: The Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card earns 5 miles per greenback on all accommodations, trip leases and automotive leases booked by way of Capital One Journey. Cardholders will earn a flat 2 miles per greenback on all different purchases. These miles may be transferred to Capital One’s 15-plus switch companions for max worth. To be taught extra, take a look at our full assessment of the Capital One Enterprise Rewards.
- In order for you a lodge card with out an annual charge, no matter model: The Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card is an possibility if you would like a lodge bank card with out an annual charge and aren’t tied to Hilton. You’ll earn 3 factors per greenback at Marriott Bonvoy properties. You’ll additionally obtain Silver Elite standing, plus journey and purchasing protections. To be taught extra, take a look at our full assessment of the Marriott Bonvoy Daring card.
For added choices, see our listing of the greatest lodge bank cards and American Categorical playing cards.
Associated: One of the best no-annual-fee bank cards
Is the Hilton Honors Amex value it?
You would possibly assume the Amex Hilton Honors card is value it by default because it has no annual charge. It relies on what you’re in search of, although. I consider you’ll like this card if entry-level elite standing and truthful incomes classes are enough for you. If you happen to’re in search of versatile rewards or extra Hilton perks, I like to recommend going for a mid-tier Hilton card or normal journey rewards card.
Backside line
The Hilton Honors American Categorical Card is an efficient starter card for these seeking to maximize the advantages of Hilton’s loyalty program with out paying an annual charge. It might not be the perfect card for everybody, although it might be the fitting card for you if that’s what you search.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors American Categorical Card
Associated: How to decide on the very best bank card for you
For charges and charges of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass Card, click on right here.
